"Nice to EAT you!"

Just about every game has a weapon of some kind, most are interchangeable, some are entirely forgettable.  However, there are some weapons that stand out, that people talk about long after the cartridge has gone into the closet and the disc is all scratched up.  These are the weapons that transcend their utility to become works of art.

Sharkgun – Armed and Dangerous (Xbox)

It’s a gun that fires sharks.  Why more people didn’t play this game I’ll never know.

Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator or Gravity Gun– Half Life 2 (PC/Xbox/Xbox360/PS3)

The definitive weapon in the thinking man’s shooter, turns everyday objects into deadly projectiles and will have you scouring the environment for new and creative ways to take out combine troops.

Pistol – Halo (Xbox/PC)

No weapon has generated so much controversy as the pistol in the original Halo.  To some its 2x zoom and powerful bullets are a dream come true.  To others, it is an unfair and unbalanced weapon that can ruin an otherwise fair match. But either way, you have to respect this powerful weapon.

Shotgun – Doom (PC)

Few moments in life are as satisfying as the first time you get the shotgun in the original Doom.  The jump in power from the pistol to the shotgun makes you appreciate and understand just how awesome this weapon is.  It is like a switch goes off and you go from hunted to hunter.

Your Mind – Psi Ops: the Mindgate Conspiracy (Xbox/PS2)

In this highly underrated game your mind is literally the ultimate weapon.  You have all kinds of psychic and telekinetic powers that are at your disposal.  You can use your mind to toss enemies around like rag dolls, or siphon off all their energy and make their heads explode, or you can pick up a crate and smash them in the face with it.  But the cruelest trick is using your psychic powers to take over an enemy soldier where you can make him betray his friends.

Tornado Gun – Ratchet and Clank Tools of Destruction (PS3)

In a series renowned for creative weapons nothing could compare to the destructive power of a maxed out Tornado Gun.  This thing is a trailer park’s worst nightmare come to life.  At the lowest power levels, it shoots out a whirlwind of devastation that you use the sixaxis to control.  By the time this baby is fully upgraded, you have a natural disaster that is shooting out lightning bolts and death.

RCP90 – Goldeneye (N64)

If it were to come out now, everyone would scream about how unbalanced and unfair this gun is.  But back in the day, nothing was more terrifying than peeking over at your buddy’s screen to see he just picked up body armor and the RCP90.  Conversely, nothing was more satisfying than killing him and taking the gun from his bloodied corpse.

Automatic Sniper Rifle – Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

The point of the game is to be stealthy, but come on, sometimes bad guys need some face shooting.  Even if you are not a crack shot; with a fully automatic sniper rifle somebody is getting shot in the face.

Far Eye – Resistance (PS3)

This awesomely unfair piece of equipment has a secondary function that slows down time to go along with its super zoom in. So, as an enemy tries to frantically run around, you can calmly slow down time and shoot him in the face.  For even more fun, slow down time in the co-op mode as your buddy fires away with the machine gun.

Morpho-Ray – Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)

Far more than any other series, the Ratchet games have managed to come up with some very creative weapons. None can come close to the sheer insanity that is the Morpho-ray.  This devilish weapon changes your enemies into ducks (or sheep with the sheepinator upgrade).  As you gain experience points, the gun becomes even more awesome.  One of the later upgrades causes those enemies you just turned into ducks to lay eggs… which explode.  I pray NASA is working on this right now.

Spread Gun – Contra (NES)

Everyone remember the stupid code but not everyone remembers just how tough the original Contra could be.  One hit death awaited you everywhere. Nothing helped clear the screen of that alien scum quicker than the spread gun.  Hold down the trigger and you’ll understand why.  It is a requirement to punch your buddy if he hogs the spread shot power ups.

So there they are. The best weapons in gaming.  Did I leave off any of your favorites?  Let me know.